Sometimes you feel compelled to tackle a project, and you don’t know why or what the end result will be, says Joyce McMurtrey, a photographer.

That is how she felt when she approached descendants of King Davis, an African-American farmer in the Ozarks who, in the early 1900s, owned more than 1,000 acres in Wright County.

“When I moved to the Ozarks in 1976, I heard stories about a man named King Davis (and) an African-American family in the Hartville area. I never saw or came across any of them. Eventually one of King’s grandsons came to work for me in my vineyard,” she said.

McMurtrey moved to the Mountain Grove area when she was 24 to help her father with his vineyards.

“I came here with the idea I would figure out what to do with the rest of my life, and it became the rest of life,” she said.

McMurtrey approached the Davis grandson about getting in touch with members of his family to photograph them for a project. She felt compelled to capture the stories of this multi-generational African-American family that has lived in the Ozarks for more than a century. Some of the original farmland is still in the family.

For the last three years, she photographed individuals, gatherings, trail rides and family traditions, and her work is on display at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library, 397 E. Central St. There is an artist reception at 2 p.m. Saturday at the library. McMurtrey will speak, share stories and talk about the artistic process. She also has two guest speakers from the faith community, Mark Dixon and Tyra Dixon Knox, who know members of the family.

Aside from the photos, McMurtrey interviewed family members and has put together a book of their stories and her photography. It will be on sale for $20.

Doc Davis is a descendant of King Davis, an African-American farmer in the Ozarks who, in the early 1900s, owned more than 1,000 acres in Wright County.(Photo: Joyce McMurtrey)

The journey has been challenging, joyous and educational.

“Being able to attend trail rides and barbecues and see an extended family and things I had never experienced. They have a huge family: a dozen children, and aunts and uncle and cousins,” she said. “These were my neighbors that I never even knew were there. This is a way of life in the Ozarks where I live, and I had never been part of that.”

King Davis

Their family story starts with King Davis I.

Jean Ann Davis Sigh, granddaughter, says her grandfather started his journey in New London, Missouri, then moved to Neosho. He later moved to Norwood and eventually settled outside Hartville.

Her mother’s side of the family — the Thompkins — have been in the Ozarks since shortly after the Homestead Act of 1862, which allowed any American, including freed slaves, to put in a claim for up to 160 free acres of federal land. They came from Tennessee and were seeking education opportunities. The Thompkins also settled around Hartville and were successful farmers.

Jean Sigh is a granddaughter of King Davis I. Her family has been in the Ozarks since shortly after the Homestead Act of 1862.(Photo: Joyce McMurtrey
2016@)

Sigh says she can’t imagine what life in rural Missouri was like back then.

“What would it be like to be in the late 1800s, an African-American man, and your first name is King and it’s right after slavery. I admire them even more,” Sigh says.

Growing up, Sigh frequently encountered racism and racial slurs.

“It was something you had to deal with on a day-to-day basis. I started kindergarten in ’65; schools were segregated, but people’s minds were not open,” she says.

But King Davis made his home outside Hartville. He bucked the trend of many African-American families who, between 1880-1920, left rural areas and settled in larger cities like St. Louis.

Something else unusual about her grandfather is, early on, he owned two homes: one in the country and one in town.

Jean Perkins, one of the many descendants of King Davis.(Photo: Joyce McMurtrey)

King and his wife had four children, including King Davis II. King II went on to marry Jean, and they had 12 children and raised them in the Hartville area. Matriarch Jean and those descendants are the subjects of this exhibit.

After King Davis I died, his wife was swindled out of most of the family farm, says Beau Davis, a Strafford resident and the fourth son of King and Jean.

“The story, and it’s true, is my dad’s dad was one of the wealthiest people in Wright County. Grandma couldn’t read or write; when he passed away they put a bookkeeper to take care of her, and every time she took out money, he took some for himself and she went broke,” Beau said.

They were left with roughly 80 acres, which her son King Davis II farmed and built up to 365 acres. The farm is still in the family, owned by Kenneth “Rabbit” Davis, who is the son of King and Jean.

King and Jean were highly successful dairy farmers. Beau said his parents were amazing people: hard-working, honest and kind.

“It was pretty cool being raised a country boy. I learned a lot of things from both of them. We just learned the outdoors, hunting, fishing, farming, growing, just how to live off the land,” he said.

One annual family tradition that McMurtrey captured was sucker grabbing. Beau says as children, they were only allowed to go if their grades were good.

“I joined the family for sucker grabbing, and when I showed them the pictures and they said, ‘All we have of this are the memories, no one has even taken photos of this’ and they loved it. They have done it their whole lives,” McMurtrey said.

Beau Davis said the project has brought back a lot of memories.

When she first started, McMurtrey had to ask strangers for access to their lives, and she didn’t even know what would come of her project. She is looking forward to the artist reception and sharing their stories.

“The thought I’d like to leave people with is: don’t be afraid to follow your heart; it doesn’t matter if you don’t know why you are doing something, you can figure it out later or make it up,” McMurtrey said. “Remember to remain open, the universe will reward you.”

WANT TO GO?

What: “King of the Ozarks: Family Stories,” a photography exhibit by Joyce McMurtrey

When: The exhibit premieres with an artist’s reception at 2 p.m. Saturday. McMurtrey will share personal stories and talk about her artistic process, and guest speakers will read excerpts from a book of photos and stories she compiled from this project.